2015 Duckhorn Vineyards - Stout Vineyard Merlot Napa Valley

2015 Duckhorn Vineyards - Stout Vineyard Merlot Napa Valley (92 pts) @duckhornwine @mastersofwine · 🙋‍♂️ Are you a valley fruit or mountain fruit wine lover❓· ℹ️ This single vineyard is located in the Howell Mountain AVA in Napa Valley and it sits at 1700 ft above sea level. The elevation and diurnal temperature shift let's the grapes retain higher acidity, which is greatly needed in Merlot. Yields were down from 2014, back to normal is more accurate, this resulted in more concentrated berries. The wine is 💯 Merlot and is aged for 18 months in 💯 French Oak with 75% being new. Tasted at the IMW "Considering Merlot" tasting panel· 👁 Medium ruby color· 👃 Medium+ intensity on the nose. Aromas of ripe red plum, raspberry, ripe strawberry, oak, cedar, earthy, and nettles· 👄 The wine is dry, medium acidity, medium round and spicy tannins, medium+ alcohol, and medium+ body. Creamy texture to the wine. Medium+ length finish highlighting bright red fruits· 🔔 This wine highlights the opportunity for Merlot in 🏔mountain sites aka cooler sites. This is seen by the confidence to bottle this 💯 Merlot without any supporting grapes. This was has a verve to it, while not high acidity (not that it needs to be) it cuts through the ripeness nicely. By far the deftest use of oak that is well integrated. Also, the red fruit profile was a nice change of pace. 😍